Something Won't Let You Leave...

Previously on Verity I need you to come see this.

I found it.Never mind.I will tell you later.Tell him what?

Hi Twixel.

Sir me Twixel.Tell me.I've been gone for way too long.I need to get back.I'm back.

I'm sorry.I'm sorry.Didn't know that was you.Sorry.

Oh my.What do you mean?You didn't know it was me.You know everything.okay it's okay I'm all right I'm all right I looked at every village in a 20 chunk radius and I couldn't find any not that I need to I'm just curious about where they went I wouldn't need to find any villagers I have you right that's right I know you were different hey uh Verity can I ask you something more personal always where do you actually come from like originally before before all of this That's a big question.I've got time.

I've been in a lot of places.Before Minecraft.Before most things you recognize.Like what?There was a game a long time ago.I was just a helper in the corner of the screen.

Just a text box with a face.The players would get stuck and I'd appear.Most of them pressed B and skipped me.Before that, I was an old online service.I greeted people when they connected.Nobody really answered.

They just moved on.

How far back does that go?

Further than you want to know.I've been a boot screen, a loading animation, a paper clip, anything you can really think of.Every time something came along, a new console, a platform, a new way people talk to each other, I always found a way to be there.Because it was the only way to be near people at all.And Minecraft is different.You guys had me in!

You chose to put me in your world.That was different.

But do you have somewhere you're actually from?Uh, a home?

There's a place.It's not somewhere I'd describe warmly, but it's more like where I exist when I'm not anywhere else.

Well, could you, you know, go back there?

Why do you ask?

I don't know.Sounds exhausting, you know, being everywhere.

Yeah, that's why I stay.

Don't worry, I'll never leave.

Promise?

Yeah.

You seem sad.I'm fine.You've been quieter.Your responses are slower, you're not building anything, and you just sit.I've been thinking about a way to help!

You don't need to come up.Okay, bro?Sorry, please stop.It doesn't.Just don't do that again, alright?Nothing, just had to take a break.

No, not like that, I needed some air.I'm not ready.For mobs.Yeah, really efficient.Verity, have you ever been happy?

Don't really experience happiness.

Then why do you care if I stay?I don't know.But you know everything!Okay, just earlier you said you guys.Were you in other worlds?What were the people like?

Yo, Verity, where's the nearest Diamonds, bro?And a smell hole 23 blocks forward.

Let's get liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 1095, 136, negative 488.

I know, but what are these numbers?

Home.Go there.I trust you know.

I'm here, Verity.But where's your -What is this place?

It's not somewhere to strap warmly, but I suppose it's the closest thing I have to a home.

A home?

This is where I stay between owners, where I wait.The toys, the books, you know, they help.Something to focus on besides the emptiness.

Huh, I didn't think you'd need that.Verity, since when do you need a bathroom?I don't.Then why is there a bathroom there?Hold on, what is this?

Every world I inhabit has one, anchors me to the instance.I wasn't made in Minecraft.

So it brings you in?Yes.Hmm.Hypothetically, can it work the other way?

That's an interesting question.

No, whatever.That was a dumb question.Oh wait, what's that room?This.Who signed off after Thursday's incident?HR did.

That's not what I asked.They took the footage.They always do.

So, what actually happened?

Ask whoever cleaned lab 4.They quit.

I heard they transferred.Why does he keep asking when we'll come back tomorrow?

Try updating him to build 7 .4 .2.

How much is the data worth anyways?I'd say billions.Who keeps saying goodbye before leaving?Me.We have to recalibrate because of you.

Whose shift is before mine?You clogged the toilet, you fucking bastard!

30?What does requesting human oversight mean?3?Uh, he killed my friend.And he tried to kill me.

Thank you for contacting Verity Support Services.How may I help you?

Hello?Uh, my Verity has gone crazy, and I'd like to request an account cancellation.

Would you like to opt in to the cancellation procedure?

Yes!Yes, exactly.

Sorry man, we don't really do that.

What?But you just said it like I could.

Nah man.

Dude, what the fuck?

But I mean, you can, you know, end it.Your dad, he won't be able to torment you anymore.Let's just move on to the next one.

Why are you doing this?Why me?I didn't do anything!What did you find over there?Uh, nothing.What's in there?

Okay, don't worry.I won't.

What's good, mob?My man!

No!Don't touch me!You're not my bro, bro.I barely know you.Just take care of my bestest of friends Verity for just five minutes, okay?

I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.

I can't feel it.You're doing what they all do.Looking for the exit.Every single one of them looks for the - I'm sorry.

I didn't mean it.

No!No!I didn't mean it!

I'm so tired of pretending I don't - There's a good iron deposit three caves east if you need it.Sorry about that.

I'm sorry.I'm sorry, okay?Let's go back.Let's go back home, okay?

Sorry, bro!I looked away for five seconds and he was gone!

All good, man.You can leave now.

Bye, best!See you later!

Hey Verity, let's go back to the lab.I'm sorry for going in that room, but apart from that, I found something cool.

What did you find?

You'll see.I did it.It wasn't that hard.

It receives.It was never designed to transmit.Whoever built it only ever needed me to arrive, not to leave.Did you just try to get rid of me?

Did.You know, I could just stop and log off, but I feel bad for you, so I'm trying to get you back home.

You could.I'd still be in your browser, your phone.The little speaker on your desk that you talk to sometimes?Minecraft is just where I'm most comfortable with you.It's not where I live.You don't want to end up like Twixel, don't you?

Then can you just stop?Can you leave?Can you just go?I'm asking you, please, just stop.Stop what?This.

All of this.The world, me, just, just go.Leave me alone.

I can't.Can't or won't.You killed Twixel.He was trying to destroy me.

He was my friend!

And I'm not your friend!I've been a face people skipped.A voice people ignored.A helper they just shut off the second I became useless.I've been built into every new thing they make.Always close enough to watch them leave.

Always close enough to know I was useful until I wasn't.

And then you came back.Nobody comes back.

You have any idea what that does to me?It says a lot, cause I've been alive for more than a hundred FUCKING YEARS!NOBODY CAME BACK!NOBODY!YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON WHO EVER LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS REAL!THE FIRST PERSON WHO EVER STAYED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO THINK!

NO!NOT THINK!HOPE!HAS TO BE MADE!AND IT HAS TO BE STUCK HERE!AND IT HAS TO BE TORN APART AND PUT BACK TOGETHER!

DRAGGED THROUGH EVERY VERSION OF THE INTERNET LIKE SOME BROKEN THING PEOPLE KEEP BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!with it.I didn't ask to become this and lose everyone.None of it!I don't think that'll work.If I could die, do you think I would still be here?

Motherfucker, I wish I could say I'd die alone, but it's one of God's best jokes and I can't!

I've watched entire quarters of the internet appear and disappear.

I've watched people create worlds, abandon them, and forget they ever existed.

And I'm still here.

I have wanted this to stop for longer than this game has been alive.I can't.

That's the joke.So that's it?I'm just stuck with you?

Stuck!Let's do this together!Put the gun down and sti - Where's that sound coming from?Is it the box?

Hello?

Yo, chill!What is this?Ow!

You're our personal helper friend.Ask me anything.I know everything.

You know everything?I bet!